[House Report 105-167]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    105-167
_______________________________________________________________________


 
             ADDITION TO FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL

                                _______
                                

  July 8, 1997.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                      [To accompany S.J. Res. 29]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the joint 
resolution (S.J. Res. 29) to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to design and construct a permanent addition to the 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., and for 
other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommend that the joint 
resolution do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of S.J. Res. 29 is to direct the Secretary of 
the Interior to design and construct a permanent addition to 
the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (FDR Memorial) was 
planned, designed, located, and constructed by the FDR Memorial 
Commission which was established by law in 1955. The FDR 
Memorial underwent extensive study and review by the Commission 
of Fine Arts, the National Park Service, the Department of the 
Interior, and the Congress. The final design for the FDR 
Memorial was approved in 1978 following three national design 
competitions. Construction of the FDR Memorial commenced in 
1995 and was dedicated on May 2, 1997.
    Beginning in 1995, representatives of the disabled 
community raised legitimate concerns that President Roosevelt 
be portrayed in a wheelchair to truly reflect that a disability 
in no way diminishes the ability of an individual to fully 
participate in all aspects of life. The FDR Commission 
attempted to address these concerns by displaying a replica of 
the wheelchair used by President Roosevelt and a rare 
photograph of the him in a wheelchair in the FDR Memorial 
Information Center. Furthermore, the FDR Memorial recognizes 
the President's disability in a time line of landmark events of 
the President's life. Carved in granite in a staircase is the 
inscription, ``1921, stricken with poliomyelitis--he never 
again walked unaided.''
    On April 23, 1997, prior to formally dedicating the FDR 
Memorial, President Clinton announced his intention of sending 
legislation to Congress to modify the memorial. S.J. Res. 29 
will complete the FDR Memorial. As President Clinton stated, 
``* * * generations of Americans will know that this great 
President was great with his disability.''
    S.J. Res. 29 requires that the Secretary of the Interior, 
as soon as practicable, report to Congress and the President 
his findings and recommendations for this addition to the FDR 
Memorial. The Secretary may seek the assistance and advice of 
the disabled community, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the 
National Capital Planning Commission in creating a final design 
for this addition to the FDR Memorial. The Commission of Fine 
Arts must approve the Secretary's final design.
    Furthermore, S.J. Res. 29 requires that construction of the 
addition to the FDR Memorial begin 120 days after submission of 
the report to Congress using only private donations. The entire 
process for completing this addition to the FDR Memorial must 
comply with the requirements of the Commemorative Works Act of 
1986.

                            committee action

    S.J. Res. 29 was introduced on May 1, 1997, by Senator 
Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) and passed by unanimous consent in the 
U.S. Senate on the same day. In the House of Representatives, 
the bill was referred to the Committee on Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. On 
June 25, 1997, the Subcommittee was discharged from further 
consideration of the bill for direct consideration by the Full 
Resources Committee. No amendments were offered, and the resolution was 
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice 
vote.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                   constitutional authority statement

    Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the 
Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority 
to enact S.J. Res. 29.

                        COST OF THE LEGISLATION

    Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
S.J. Res. 29. However, clause 7(d) of that Rule provides that 
this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included 
in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, S.J. 
Res. 29 does not contain any new budget authority, credit 
authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax 
expenditures. According to the Congressional Budget Office, if 
enacted, the bill could increase mandatory spending by less 
than $1 million if the National Park Service receives the 
necessary contributions to begin construction, but that this 
spending would be offset by donations. In addition, before 
construction could begin, the National Park Service would 
require contributors to deposit ten percent of the construction 
cost in the U.S. Treasury to offset future maintenance costs. 
Portions of the deposit (which would total $50,000 to $100,000) 
would then be spent without further appropriation annually over 
the life of the addition.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of S.J. Res. 29.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for S.J. 
Res. 29 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, July 8, 1997.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S.J. Res. 29, a joint 
resolution to direct the Secretary of the Interior to design 
and construct a permanent addition to the Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., and for other purposes.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                         June E. O'Neill, Director.
    Enclosure.

S.J. Res. 29--A joint resolution to direct the Secretary of the 
        Interior to design and construct a permanent addition to the 
        Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC, and for 
        other purposes

    S.J. Res. 29 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
plan, design, and construct an addition to the Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt Memorial recognizing the late president's 
accomplishments while he was disabled. The resolution would 
further direct the Secretary to report to the Congress and the 
President on recommendations for the addition. Beginning 120 
days after submission of the report, the Secretary would begin 
construction of the addition using only private contributions. 
Finally, S.J. Res. 29 would authorize the appropriation of 
whatever amounts are necessary to carry out the legislation.
    Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts for 
planning and design, CBO estimates that implementing S.J. Res. 
29 would cost the federal government less than $200,000 over 
the next two fiscal years. Assuming that the National Park 
Service (NPS) receives the necessary contributions to begin 
construction, we estimate that mandatory spending would 
increase by between $500,000 and $1 million over the following 
year or two, but such spending would be offset by the 
donations. In addition, before construction would begin, the 
NPS probably would require the contributors to deposit 10 
percent of the construction cost in the federal Treasury to 
offset future maintenance costs. Portions of the deposit, which 
would total $50,000 to $100,000, would then be spent without 
further appropriation annually over the life of the addition.
    Because the resolution would have no effect on direct 
spending or receipts until after 1999, pay-as-you-go procedures 
would not apply. S.J. Res. 29 contains no intergovernmental or 
private-sector mandates and would impose no costs on state, 
local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. 
The estimate was approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                    compliance with public law 104-4

    S.J. Res. 29 contains no unfunded mandates.

                        changes in existing law

    If enacted, S.J. Res. 29 would make no changes in existing 
law.

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

    I would like to take this opportunity to comment on the 
importance of S.J. Res 29, a bill that fully honors the memory 
of one of our nation's finest Presidents, Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt.
    Foremost, I want to thank Senator Inouye of Hawaii for 
introducing this legislation. Senator Inouye's leadership and 
dedication to a proper memorial has been second to none. 
Senator Inouye has correctly stated that, ``disability is a 
natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes 
the right to individuals to participate in all aspects of 
American life * * * the depiction of President Roosevelt in a 
wheelchair will inspire the tragically afflicted. It may very 
well be a more honest way to depict President Roosevelt.'' Such 
a strong commitment on the part of Senator Inouye has allowed 
us all to pay full tribute to the life of Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt.
    I also want to thank Representative Don Young of Alaska, 
Chairman of the House Resources Committee, and Representative 
George Miller of California for bringing this legislation to 
the House side in a bipartisan manner.
    Modifying the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial by adding 
a permanent statue which depicts him as a citizen wit a 
handicap is essential if we are to fully understand the life 
and times of FDR. The need to erect a permanent addition to the 
FDR Memorial is twofold. First, it is imperative to publicly 
acknowledge the great accomplishments of our 32nd President. 
And second, a permanent statue sends a message to our citizens 
that handicaps do not limit a person's opportunity for 
achievement.
    FDR's accomplishments as President speak volumes of the 
fact that people living with handicaps can accomplish their 
goals. Throughout his tenure as president, FDR remained firmly 
committed to the development of all Americans, those with 
disabilities and those without. In his Second Inaugural 
Address, FDR spoke of the ``road of enduring progress'' on 
which he claimed that ``mental and moral horizons had been 
extended.'' For FDR this goal was especially important to those 
living with handicaps. Ultimately, FDR sought the advancement 
of this cause through the establishment of a foundation at Warm 
Springs, Georgia to help other polio victims, and inspired the 
March of Dimes program which funded an effective vaccine.
    To be sure, our country has built upon the legacy of FDR 
and has come a long way in ensuring the equality of all 
citizens living with Disabilities through programs such as the 
Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act. The FDR Memorial is simply a 
testament of how far along the road of progress we have come as 
a nation to ensuring that persons living with both mental and 
physical handicaps are entitled to equal rights, equal access, 
and equal opportunity.
    The FDR Memorial serves as a reference point for those of 
us who are traveling down the road of progress. FDR renounced 
fear as it is ``nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which 
paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.'' 
President Roosevelt's continued renunciation of fear, refusal 
to crumble, and ability to act decisively and fearlessly in 
spite of the pressures of the Great Depression and World War II 
allowed him to develop into one of the finest role models for 
the people of the United States.
    A permanent statue of FDR as a citizen with a disability 
will forever inspire all citizens to forge through our fears 
and most difficult times. To me it is ironic, yet only fitting, 
that during the Great Depression, a time when our nation was in 
fact disabled, a man living with a handicap, stepped beyond his 
limitations to lead our nation like no other. Our 32nd 
President not only lived with a handicap, but did so while 
being one of the great leaders of our country. FDR is symbolic 
of perseverance, and his presidency is testimony that mental 
and physical handicaps are not impediments to success.
    In the end, a permanent statue which portrays Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt as a person with a handicap will be forever a 
reminder that disability is part of humanity and in no way 
reduces a person's chance of fulfilling his or her dreams.

                                                Patrick J. Kennedy.